Owens, "Steve" (Loren E.)
Football
b. Dec. 9, 1947, Gore, OK
A power runner with a surprising turn of speed, Owens gained 3,867 yards, an NCAA record at the time, in 905 carries at the University of Oklahoma, scoring 56 rushing touchdowns. He set another record by gaining more than 100 yards in 17 consecutive games. An All-American fullback in 1969, Owens won the Heisman Trophy as the nation's outstanding college player.
Owens' brief professional career was plagued by injuries. He joined the NFL's Detroit Lions as a first-round draft choice in 1970, but missed most of the season with a separated shoulder. In 1971, Owen returned to his college form and became the first Detroit player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He gained 1,035 yards in 246 carries, a 4.2 average, and scored 8 rushing touchdowns.
However, a whole series of injuries limited his playing time from 1972 through 1974. After missing the entire 1975 season with a knee injury, Owens announced his retirement. In 5 NFL seasons, he gained 2,451 yards on 635 carries, a 3.9 average, and scored 20 rushing touchdowns. He caught 60 passes for 785 yards, a 13.1 average, and 4 touchdowns.